(Rick Hickman / Special to the American Press)
(Rick Hickman / Special to the American Press)
Nothing stops these Warriors from performing at elite level
Last Modified: Monday, July 16, 2012 1:05 PM
By Alex Hickey / American Press
SULPHUR — War is never over.
Long after the final shot is fired, the troops withdrawn and the treaty signed, mental and physical battles are still being fought by veterans every day.
On Saturday night, the Wounded Warriors again showed those battles can be won on the playing field and off it, beating Jennie Finch-Daigle’s Bayou All-Stars 7-5.
More importantly, the event drew a two-day total of 5,700 fans to McMurry Park and raised more than $200,000 for the Wounded Warriors’ cause.
“Never in a million years did we expect this. We were hoping for $100,000, but that was shooting for the sky,” Finch-Daigle said. “Southwest Louisiana just came out with incredible, overpouring support.
“It speaks volumes of what this community is about and the pride it has for its veterans. The generosity of the community is special.”
Finch-Daigle noted that the largest single donation was $10,000, meaning it took many separate donors to add up to the final total.
However, the Warriors’ value is far more than monetary. They also deliver a message of hope to those who have suffered through loss of limb, whether on the field of battle or at birth.
“You can do anything you want in life regardless of your disabilities,” said Wounded Warrior Todd Reed, who tagged a two-run homer off Finch-Daigle in the first inning.
Injuries are frequently cited by sports teams as a hamper to their success, and you won’t find a roster more wrought by them than the Wounded Warriors. The entire team is an injury list.
Nick Clark (left leg), Josh Wege (both legs), Matt Kinsey (right leg), Saul Bosquez (left foot), Todd Reed (right leg), Dan Lasko (left leg), Tim Horton (left leg), Kyle Earl (right hand), Randall Rugg (left leg), Greg Reynolds (left arm).
Those limbs aren’t strained or sprained or broken. They’re missing altogether. Yet what is seen as a handicap to most doesn’t prevent the Warriors from performing at an elite level on the field.
In the first inning, third baseman Bosquez managing to snag a sharp one-hopper off the bat of Calcasieu Police Jury President Les Farnum and laser a throw to first for the out.
In the bottom of the sixth, pitcher Wege seemingly had more limbs in peril on back-to-back shots lined right back up the box, but made a pair of acrobatic catches, the second of which forced him to sprawl sideways while making a half-blind grab.
Shortstop Matt Kinsey made a pair of athletic plays in the seventh, robbing Pat Rapp of a base-hit with a throw that forced him to put his weight on his prosthetic leg. Kinsey then ended the game with a diving catch to do the same to Fort Polk Commanding General K.K. Chinn.
Though fans were treated to plenty of entertainment from the Warriors and an All-Star team of former Major Leaguers and softball Olympians, Reed hopes those in attendance also took something more away.
“We can show people, whether they are veterans or civilians — the things we’ve heard from some of the kids with disabilities watching us play, you couldn’t put a price tag on that,” Reed said. “We hope it stays with them and motivates them so as they grow they can do the same thing by touching other people.”
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